The Road to Hana - all the way this time (Tuesday)

< Waterfall near Hana, after rain
Linda's contribution...

The road to Hana (we drove half way the other day but decided to take the full trip by coach tour) includes 617 curves, dozens of one lane bridges, and changes in elevation of a thousand or more feet. It's no wonder the locals sell T-shirts emblazoned with, "I survived the road to Hana!"

When you leave the driving to a pro, like Alex from Valley Isle Excursions, you can relax and appreciate spectacular views of waterfalls, ocean, tropical rain forest, and local fauna, such as the occasional mongoose running across the road in front of the van.

The tour started with breakfast at 7:00 AM in Kahului - bagels, pineapple, watermelon, profiteroles filled with coconut flavored cream, cornbread, poppy seed cake, lots of hot coffee - and being introduced to our traveling companions. We were ten adults and two very well behaved children, all primed to have a great time. Alex, half Hawaiian, half Portuguese, narrated the trip with fascinating bits of local history and traditions associated with each site. David took great advantage of all the photo stops. See the latest photo gallery. The photos here show one of the taller waterfalls near Hana after the recent rain, a view through a lava tube sea cave at the Black Beach, and some of the stones on that beach.

< Lava tube cave through to the sea
We stopped for lunch at a private flower garden just past the town of Hana (as I write this I haven't had breakfast yet, so I'm focusing on food. ). BBQ Chicken, macaroni salad, veggie salad, sautéed fresh veggies, a Hawaiian dinner roll. Yum!

David's contribution...

The thing about going on a conducted tour is that you see stuff you miss when driving your own vehicle. Both because you have a better view (higher above the road) and because the driver knows where the best things are. And - of course - when you're not driving you get to look at something besides the road! The downside is that you don't get to stop at every interesting photo opportunity.


< Stones on the Black Beach
The other difference between the trips was that yesterday it rained intermittently (and had been doing so for two days) so the waterfalls had plenty of water in them (see gallery for the obligatory waterfall photos). Much more photogenic!

The trip took us as far as the Seven Sacred Pools (actually there are 24, but Seven sounds better), a black beach and lava tube.

All told, an excellent trip. We came back to the cottage for dinner. Linda introduced David to proper monster Nathan's American hot dogs! Things are looking bad... he likes Twinkies too